Oh my word I ache so much! All my muscles hurt! We piled on to the bus for the long drive to Sydney via Canberra. Since the French guys had been moaning at Coaster the night before that the tour was boring for them and that he should put films on with French sub titles. To be honest that is ridiculous!! If you were going to put subtitles on then you would need to put about 8 different languages on as there are more than French and English people on the bus. Let's see it would have to have French, German, Dutch, Korean, Swiss and Chinese, that is not possible! Anywho because of the moaning Coaster tried to make the day more interesting by taking us to the museum as well as the parliament house. The museums are mostly free over here and they are really good for free things! We spent an hour looking round then headed out for lunch. We had all chipped $5 earlier and Coaster and I had ran round the supermarket getting picnic lunch food, hot chicken, rolls, salad and fruit. It was tasty!! Once we'd all eaten we set off for the parliament building. We were lucky because the parliament was in session that day so we were going to sit in and watch for 15mins as the prime minister did her thing. Coaster explained the mosaic in front of the building and stuff around the building. It was really good to watch and at the same time it was quite childish. With all the hear hears and I's! Because we had waited for parliament to be in session we were now late leaving Canberra and we had a long drive still to Sydney. However on the way Coaster made it fun with a quiz and Coasters history part 2! Unfortunately he can't control the road works but yet again with the help of a two way radio being stuck in a traffic jam was fun as we chatted to the lorry and truck drivers we were next to. Over all it was an ok drive. As we pulled into Sydney he told us the highlights to do if you had a few days. I was getting excited to get there and see Gareth! We finally navigated through Sydney traffic and arrived at the hostel. My little brother was waiting for me!! :):) we checked in and he showed me to the room. It was an 8 bed dorm and all beds were now full. There was a party of drinking games going on bit we were starving so we went straight to the supermarket. We got a cooked chicken and pasta and made carbonara. While cooking we met a couple from Sheffield and chatted to them it was quite funny because she was OCD about the kitchen she had bought her own plate and cutlery and cup!! Hehe! I then did washing, went on the Internet and got carried away before I knew it, it was 1am and I was well ready for bed!!
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Friday, 25 February 2011
Day 59 highest mountain in Australia!
Another early morning as we have far to drive again. However it is through an amazing national park. Most backpackers don't have the chance to go through this national park. We stopped at the oldest school house it was tiny. The teacher even lived in it too! Near to the school house was the house of a lady named Jan, she collects skulls!! We didn't visit her! Even tho Coaster said she was very nice. We stopped at some amazing look out points. Coaster, our guide, told us the story of the man from snowy river. It's about a man who breaks in a wild horse from the snowy valley. A high class woman in the area owned a horse farm and one day one of her prize horses escaped, she put out a request for someone to get it back for her and they would get a $1000 reward. All the best riders from miles around came to compete to find the horse, including the man on the wild horse. They found the horse in a pack of wild horses, all the men took chase. The terrain of the snowy valley is very very steep hills in some places. As the pack ran with the prize horse they took a turn down an extremely steep hill all the riders pulled up as they were unable to ride down such a hill. However the man on the wild horse was able to keep chase as his horse was very used to the hills and he was an amazing rider. Yep you guessed it he caught the horse and got the prize money an lived happily ever after!
We headed down into the valley to get some food. We were on quite a time limit because we were heading to climb mount Kosciuszko the highest mountain in Australia standing at 2228m above sea level. It was named by a polish man, to honour a national hero of Poland from the American revolutionary war. So named because it resembled the hill he was buried in. When he named it no one knew it was the highest mountain on Australia. The mountain is a ski resort in the winter, we made it to our hotel at the base of the mountain. Threw our bags in filled up with water and set off the climb the mountain. Because it's a ski resort there is a chair lift to part way up the mountain, included in our tour was a lift pass. The lift closed at 4.30pm if you were even 2 minutes late you would be walking down!! I did not want to miss it!
The lift ride up was quite fun, I've never been on a chair lift before. From the top of chair lift it's 6.5km to the summit. On the walk we all chatted and as usual when a large group walks we split up a bit. There was a couple of stops along the way at a lake and a view point. It was an ok walk but did make me realise how unfit I am! We all made it to the top though, even Coaster came to the top which he doesn't normally do. On the way up he gave me a grey looking flower called a forever flower because it never dies. At the top I stood on the view point and was the tallest person in Australia!! I'm never the tallest person! We set off with maybe just enough time to make it to the chair lift. Or so we thought! As we reached the 2km from the chair lift mark it became clear that we may not make it, panic!! I jogged for a bit then walked again as the girls caught up with me. At the 1.5km marker came and it was 4:20pm it was clear that we had to walk or walk down the rest of the mountain! So I ran!! I am not a runner and especially not in walking boots! I thought I was going to collapse! But, in some luck I made it to the lift just in time! I have never been so happy to sit down, as I was to sit on the chair! Half way down it stopped and i thought they had closed and we would be stranded there but it was just to change the track.
Once back at the hotel we discovered the joys of hot tubs after a walk and run!! Once the boys got in the water changed from clear to grey, I made a swift exit! We got dressed up and went for some food. Once we had eaten we went to the bar, one of coasters friends played his guitar and sang it was really good. We all had a go on the shot luge it was quite fun and tasty! I showed the 2 german guys on the tour. I was so glad when u finally climbed up to bed and fell asleep straight away!
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We headed down into the valley to get some food. We were on quite a time limit because we were heading to climb mount Kosciuszko the highest mountain in Australia standing at 2228m above sea level. It was named by a polish man, to honour a national hero of Poland from the American revolutionary war. So named because it resembled the hill he was buried in. When he named it no one knew it was the highest mountain on Australia. The mountain is a ski resort in the winter, we made it to our hotel at the base of the mountain. Threw our bags in filled up with water and set off the climb the mountain. Because it's a ski resort there is a chair lift to part way up the mountain, included in our tour was a lift pass. The lift closed at 4.30pm if you were even 2 minutes late you would be walking down!! I did not want to miss it!
The lift ride up was quite fun, I've never been on a chair lift before. From the top of chair lift it's 6.5km to the summit. On the walk we all chatted and as usual when a large group walks we split up a bit. There was a couple of stops along the way at a lake and a view point. It was an ok walk but did make me realise how unfit I am! We all made it to the top though, even Coaster came to the top which he doesn't normally do. On the way up he gave me a grey looking flower called a forever flower because it never dies. At the top I stood on the view point and was the tallest person in Australia!! I'm never the tallest person! We set off with maybe just enough time to make it to the chair lift. Or so we thought! As we reached the 2km from the chair lift mark it became clear that we may not make it, panic!! I jogged for a bit then walked again as the girls caught up with me. At the 1.5km marker came and it was 4:20pm it was clear that we had to walk or walk down the rest of the mountain! So I ran!! I am not a runner and especially not in walking boots! I thought I was going to collapse! But, in some luck I made it to the lift just in time! I have never been so happy to sit down, as I was to sit on the chair! Half way down it stopped and i thought they had closed and we would be stranded there but it was just to change the track.
Once back at the hotel we discovered the joys of hot tubs after a walk and run!! Once the boys got in the water changed from clear to grey, I made a swift exit! We got dressed up and went for some food. Once we had eaten we went to the bar, one of coasters friends played his guitar and sang it was really good. We all had a go on the shot luge it was quite fun and tasty! I showed the 2 german guys on the tour. I was so glad when u finally climbed up to bed and fell asleep straight away!
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Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Day 58 Early Wet morning
When I got out of hostel to walk to the pick up point it was pouring with rain so I stuck my arm up and a lovely taxi stopped to save me from getting drowned! I waited at the art gallery for the fun to begin. The driver arrived and I got on the bus. This tour is busier than the others there will be 19 of us on this one. I chatted to the people who got on the bus with me, Jack, Thomas and Ian. I showed Jack the itinerary as he didn't know what he was doing on the tour. We stopped at the office in base backpackers hostel which had been flooded so they had no electricity so it was a quick check in and then set off on our adventure.
As is usual in Australia there was a long way to drive! 500km today so off we went. We stopped at a field to find some kangaroos. Ian was the only one who hadn't seen any wild kangaroos or any in Australia as a matter of fact. In the field there was also red back spiders living in tyres on the floor. It was then back onto the bus for more driving. We went to a national park and ate a picnic lunch. We walked down to the Southern most point of the Australian main land. Of course took pictures then headed down to squeaky beach. So named because when you walk along it the sand squeaks! It was a beautiful beach, I didn't risk paddling today because I had walking boots on and I didn't fancy getting all wet again.
From here it was more driving to reach our hostel for the night. I chatted to the girls sat behind me most of the way. We arrived early evening dumped our stuff in the rooms and set off for tea. Chicken and chips or fish and chips, I had chicken and it was ok I guess. Once we had all eaten some people went back to the hostel to bed. The rest of us went down to ninety mile beach, the longest beach in Australia, to watch the sunset. It was a nice beach and went on for ever! The sunset was lovely, Jack and I had a slight argument about sunsets, he thinks they are mostly underwelming. It was a beautiful sunset and he did admit that it was a 7/10! Thus begins the scoring for the trip. Back at the hostel there was a queue for the showers as there was only two between 14 of us! And one toilet between us! It was a nice strong shower and once I'd showered I went to bed to prepare for the next morning.
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As is usual in Australia there was a long way to drive! 500km today so off we went. We stopped at a field to find some kangaroos. Ian was the only one who hadn't seen any wild kangaroos or any in Australia as a matter of fact. In the field there was also red back spiders living in tyres on the floor. It was then back onto the bus for more driving. We went to a national park and ate a picnic lunch. We walked down to the Southern most point of the Australian main land. Of course took pictures then headed down to squeaky beach. So named because when you walk along it the sand squeaks! It was a beautiful beach, I didn't risk paddling today because I had walking boots on and I didn't fancy getting all wet again.
From here it was more driving to reach our hostel for the night. I chatted to the girls sat behind me most of the way. We arrived early evening dumped our stuff in the rooms and set off for tea. Chicken and chips or fish and chips, I had chicken and it was ok I guess. Once we had all eaten some people went back to the hostel to bed. The rest of us went down to ninety mile beach, the longest beach in Australia, to watch the sunset. It was a nice beach and went on for ever! The sunset was lovely, Jack and I had a slight argument about sunsets, he thinks they are mostly underwelming. It was a beautiful sunset and he did admit that it was a 7/10! Thus begins the scoring for the trip. Back at the hostel there was a queue for the showers as there was only two between 14 of us! And one toilet between us! It was a nice strong shower and once I'd showered I went to bed to prepare for the next morning.
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Day 57 Great Ocean Road Continued
This morning we headed back down to Loch ard gorge and were the first people to walk on the beach. Well there was some dog foot prints but no human prints. Shelly told us the story of how the gorge got it's name. A ship called the loch ard was sailing and got to close to the cliffs, when they realised and tried to turn it was already to late and the ship sank. A member of the crew called Tom managed to swim to the beach. While he rested he hears screams bs shouts coming from the mouth of the gorge. Realising it was Eva one of the passengers he swam out to save her and carried her into a cave over night. What a romantic love story apparently Tom did ask her to marry him but Eva said no and returned to England. Once we had taken some silly pictures and Gemma and I had nearly got stranded again we set off for our next stop.
The next stop on the great ocean road was Owtry tree top walk. The walk is up on a walkway in the canopy of the trees. There is a tower half way were you climb above the tree tops and a suspended part of the walk way which bounces as you walk on it! Hehe guess what I did? Jumped on it to make it rock more!! It was a nice walk but we didn't see any wild life that we had been told lived in the forest. You can do zip wire all over the forest but it was expensive and would took 3 hours and we didn't have the time. On the way out Gemma and I spotted a kids climbing frame and Gemma challenged me to a race to the top! I won!! We drove on stopping at look outs to take pictures and then stopped at a park for some lunch. We had to do the compulsory stop at the great ocean road sign for photos! One of our last stops on the great ocean road was bells beach. We had a walk along the beach and Kat and I had a paddle. Well it turned into more than a paddle when a rouge wave came and soaked us both! I looked like I had wet myself my shorts were soaked! GGRR!! So the drive was a little uncomfortable! The final stop was at Torquay to do some discount shopping! I got a nice rip curl top and hat for $10 each! Bargain! That was the end of our tour down the great ocean road.
As we drove into Melbourne we arranged to meet for dinner. I was in the first drop off and luckily I was staying in the hostel right next to the stop! I checked in and headed up to my room, the place was lovely, clean and new. In the room I chatted to an American girl, had a shower and got ready to go out for tea. I got directions from the reception and set off. I got the tram to federation square and there I met Steph. She hadn't arranged to come with us but I asked her again and she said yes. We walked to central station and found everyone. After a walk around looking for a pizzeria we gave up and found a place that did a drink and meal for $12.50 bargain!! I had fish and chips it was lovely! We had a group photo again and then went our separate ways. I walked with Steph as she was staying near to my hostel. I fell into bed again ready for another early morning!
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The next stop on the great ocean road was Owtry tree top walk. The walk is up on a walkway in the canopy of the trees. There is a tower half way were you climb above the tree tops and a suspended part of the walk way which bounces as you walk on it! Hehe guess what I did? Jumped on it to make it rock more!! It was a nice walk but we didn't see any wild life that we had been told lived in the forest. You can do zip wire all over the forest but it was expensive and would took 3 hours and we didn't have the time. On the way out Gemma and I spotted a kids climbing frame and Gemma challenged me to a race to the top! I won!! We drove on stopping at look outs to take pictures and then stopped at a park for some lunch. We had to do the compulsory stop at the great ocean road sign for photos! One of our last stops on the great ocean road was bells beach. We had a walk along the beach and Kat and I had a paddle. Well it turned into more than a paddle when a rouge wave came and soaked us both! I looked like I had wet myself my shorts were soaked! GGRR!! So the drive was a little uncomfortable! The final stop was at Torquay to do some discount shopping! I got a nice rip curl top and hat for $10 each! Bargain! That was the end of our tour down the great ocean road.
As we drove into Melbourne we arranged to meet for dinner. I was in the first drop off and luckily I was staying in the hostel right next to the stop! I checked in and headed up to my room, the place was lovely, clean and new. In the room I chatted to an American girl, had a shower and got ready to go out for tea. I got directions from the reception and set off. I got the tram to federation square and there I met Steph. She hadn't arranged to come with us but I asked her again and she said yes. We walked to central station and found everyone. After a walk around looking for a pizzeria we gave up and found a place that did a drink and meal for $12.50 bargain!! I had fish and chips it was lovely! We had a group photo again and then went our separate ways. I walked with Steph as she was staying near to my hostel. I fell into bed again ready for another early morning!
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Day 56 Great Ocean Road
Bit of a later morning today woohoo!! Got to sleep past 7am!! After a maggot free breakfast we set off for hopefully a more interesting day. Our first stop was at tower hill which is an old volcano. Here we would walk to the top and in the crater. It was a good walk with lots of wild life. Kangaroos, koalas, emus, rabbits and at the end a shingle back lizard or sleepy lizard. He was quite cute just sleeping under a rock. Again we did the group picture on self timer at the top. The view was amazing you could see the sea!! We chilled at the cafe for 10 mins then set off to begin the drive along the great ocean road!!
First of all we had to pick up some lunch. Today it would be subway, Gemma has never had subway and was quite nervous about the whole experience. We helped her fill out the form then set off to pick it up. It was quite a drive to the shop. We picked them up and headed for Clulterns cove to eat it. However a few of us were hungry already so we ate ours on the bus. Unfortunately for Gemma they got her order wrong so instead of a cheese salad she just got salad! She made the best of it by turning it into a crisp sandwich. The cove was lovely we ventured down, Gemma and I walked round to the edge and sat on a rock. As we sat there I thought hum it looks like the tide is coming in so I said to Gemma we should head back or we might get cut off. Just as I said it she got splashed by a wave and was we walk round by the cliff a wave came and pinned me against the rock and forced Gemma back. Once it had gone we ran so as not to get cut off. We got back on the bus and began our drive down the great ocean road!! Woohoo!!
There are a lot of bays along the road, and to be honest you can't actually see the ocean from the beginning part of the road. Our first stop was at the bay of islands which as the name suggests is a bay with little islands in!! Beautiful though and we did go down for a look and of course pictures! The next stop in the raid was Marter bay followed by London bridge. This is a rock out in the sea that looks like a bridge. Apparently it used to have two arches but one day a couple went across the first arch and heard a big cracking noise and the arch crumbled leaving them stranded. It took emergency services a good few hours to rescue them. The story in the paper was that it was a boss and his secretary intrigue!! Hehe!! Our next port of call was Gibsons steps. These are lots of steps leading down to the beach. We walked down and again took pictures. It is quite tiring jumping on and off a coach every five minutes but the bays were beautiful. The steps were not as fun going up as they had been going down!! The next stop is called the 12 apostles. There isn't actually 12 of them I think they said there was 7 and one that crumbled a few years ago. Here you could walk to the view point or get a helicopter flight over them. Guess which I did!! Yep the helicopter! Kat, Steph and I went in the helicopter. The guy said I should go in the front because I am short and the others would still be able to see over me! It was beautiful the weather was stunning abs you could see it all needless to say I took a lot of pictures!! I have filled nearly all of the memory cards I have with me! Once we landed we set off for the next stop, this one is called Loch ard gorge. It was just a quick stop as we would be heading back in the morning. So a few pictures and we headed to our hostel for the night.
It wasn't hard to do but this one was better than last nights! Again we were all in the same room but that was fine, no strange men with bed tents and it smelt nice. We didn't stay long we just dumped our bags and went out to watch the sun set over the 12 apostles. It was a pretty sunset and I did of course get to carried away with the pictures!! Oh well I'm the kind of person digital was designed for! The happy snapper! We did start the think a little to much about the sun set, like the fact that as we watched it go down over the 12 apostles, the people at Uluru were also watching it go down and in the England it had already risen!! That is a mind bender!! On the way back we were getting short of time because a couple of people hadn't come back on time an the hostel was strict on turning the water off at 10:30 and we all wanted showers. We did make it thanks to Shellys wonderful driving. It was quite funny the showers were all just on the corridor and next to each other so we were chatting in the shower. Also the toilets were vey environmentally friendly as the sink was above the sys-ten and when you flushed it clean water came out of the tap to wash your hands but it also filled up the sys-ten!! Crazy but good!! Once again we crashed into bed.
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First of all we had to pick up some lunch. Today it would be subway, Gemma has never had subway and was quite nervous about the whole experience. We helped her fill out the form then set off to pick it up. It was quite a drive to the shop. We picked them up and headed for Clulterns cove to eat it. However a few of us were hungry already so we ate ours on the bus. Unfortunately for Gemma they got her order wrong so instead of a cheese salad she just got salad! She made the best of it by turning it into a crisp sandwich. The cove was lovely we ventured down, Gemma and I walked round to the edge and sat on a rock. As we sat there I thought hum it looks like the tide is coming in so I said to Gemma we should head back or we might get cut off. Just as I said it she got splashed by a wave and was we walk round by the cliff a wave came and pinned me against the rock and forced Gemma back. Once it had gone we ran so as not to get cut off. We got back on the bus and began our drive down the great ocean road!! Woohoo!!
There are a lot of bays along the road, and to be honest you can't actually see the ocean from the beginning part of the road. Our first stop was at the bay of islands which as the name suggests is a bay with little islands in!! Beautiful though and we did go down for a look and of course pictures! The next stop in the raid was Marter bay followed by London bridge. This is a rock out in the sea that looks like a bridge. Apparently it used to have two arches but one day a couple went across the first arch and heard a big cracking noise and the arch crumbled leaving them stranded. It took emergency services a good few hours to rescue them. The story in the paper was that it was a boss and his secretary intrigue!! Hehe!! Our next port of call was Gibsons steps. These are lots of steps leading down to the beach. We walked down and again took pictures. It is quite tiring jumping on and off a coach every five minutes but the bays were beautiful. The steps were not as fun going up as they had been going down!! The next stop is called the 12 apostles. There isn't actually 12 of them I think they said there was 7 and one that crumbled a few years ago. Here you could walk to the view point or get a helicopter flight over them. Guess which I did!! Yep the helicopter! Kat, Steph and I went in the helicopter. The guy said I should go in the front because I am short and the others would still be able to see over me! It was beautiful the weather was stunning abs you could see it all needless to say I took a lot of pictures!! I have filled nearly all of the memory cards I have with me! Once we landed we set off for the next stop, this one is called Loch ard gorge. It was just a quick stop as we would be heading back in the morning. So a few pictures and we headed to our hostel for the night.
It wasn't hard to do but this one was better than last nights! Again we were all in the same room but that was fine, no strange men with bed tents and it smelt nice. We didn't stay long we just dumped our bags and went out to watch the sun set over the 12 apostles. It was a pretty sunset and I did of course get to carried away with the pictures!! Oh well I'm the kind of person digital was designed for! The happy snapper! We did start the think a little to much about the sun set, like the fact that as we watched it go down over the 12 apostles, the people at Uluru were also watching it go down and in the England it had already risen!! That is a mind bender!! On the way back we were getting short of time because a couple of people hadn't come back on time an the hostel was strict on turning the water off at 10:30 and we all wanted showers. We did make it thanks to Shellys wonderful driving. It was quite funny the showers were all just on the corridor and next to each other so we were chatting in the shower. Also the toilets were vey environmentally friendly as the sink was above the sys-ten and when you flushed it clean water came out of the tap to wash your hands but it also filled up the sys-ten!! Crazy but good!! Once again we crashed into bed.
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Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Day 54 day of sorting
LIE IN!!! Wooohooo!! Until 8am! Luxury! Due to people banging around I couldn't sleep longer so I got up and began the day of sorting. Today will be the day of sorting. I started by sorting out the immense amount of cloths I seem to have bought with me. Shall we say streamlining my wardrobe to a more nuclear Gok Wan style! To start with it was hard but I soon became ruthless as I really am sick of not fitting everything in and carrying the weight. Once I had a pile to go gathered up into a bag and my broken boots in another bag I was ready to head off to sort!!
First stop the post office, because the stuff to go weighs quite a bit! I managed to fit it all into a pretty smallish box though. Once I'd done that I headed off in search of a good old cobbler to fix my boots. I found a nice guy who said he would do his best but apparently boots are designed to disintegrate after a certain number of years so it's time for a new pair. From the cobblers I set off in search of the doctors as I need a medical form signed for my conservation project. The city is pretty much a grid so it wasn't to hard to find. The doctor was really nice he gave me loads of information, more than the UK. Most importantly he signed my form. So off to another post office and then to see the sights.
I did get distracted by the shops, I got an external hard drive to store my pictures on as it was cheaper to get that, with a case, than a USB stick!! Stupid!! I got more flag badges for my blanket. After that I thought I best find some thing to see in Adelaide so I went in search of the museum. To be honest once you have been into one museum they are all pretty much the same. Bones, dead stuffed things and stuff. Oh and lots of things to read, I'm not the quickest reader and it is annoying. So I wandered round and looked at everything read some bits. There were some artefacts from Vanuatu which was cool to see as I'll be going there. I was also on a time limit as I had to go get my boots. Once I'd picked the boots back up, he has glued them all the way round, I wandered back to the shops as it's late opening and I had nothing else to do. I got a sarong with free tie thing and them headed back to the hostel.
I sorted out my stuff I'd kept, which included 2 things that had been on the go pile but I'd thought at the last minute I wanted them so a top and my cardigan stayed. I ate and wrote ing my diary which is still mile behind!! Then Leonie and Nina arrived. They could only get one night in my hostel then they had to move so we went in search of the other hostel. It was an ok place but at least the walk was nice. Once back at the hostel Leonie let me use her notebook to transfer my pictures and Nina skyped her family. I headed off to bed pretty early as I was up early yet again the next day!!
First stop the post office, because the stuff to go weighs quite a bit! I managed to fit it all into a pretty smallish box though. Once I'd done that I headed off in search of a good old cobbler to fix my boots. I found a nice guy who said he would do his best but apparently boots are designed to disintegrate after a certain number of years so it's time for a new pair. From the cobblers I set off in search of the doctors as I need a medical form signed for my conservation project. The city is pretty much a grid so it wasn't to hard to find. The doctor was really nice he gave me loads of information, more than the UK. Most importantly he signed my form. So off to another post office and then to see the sights.
I did get distracted by the shops, I got an external hard drive to store my pictures on as it was cheaper to get that, with a case, than a USB stick!! Stupid!! I got more flag badges for my blanket. After that I thought I best find some thing to see in Adelaide so I went in search of the museum. To be honest once you have been into one museum they are all pretty much the same. Bones, dead stuffed things and stuff. Oh and lots of things to read, I'm not the quickest reader and it is annoying. So I wandered round and looked at everything read some bits. There were some artefacts from Vanuatu which was cool to see as I'll be going there. I was also on a time limit as I had to go get my boots. Once I'd picked the boots back up, he has glued them all the way round, I wandered back to the shops as it's late opening and I had nothing else to do. I got a sarong with free tie thing and them headed back to the hostel.
I sorted out my stuff I'd kept, which included 2 things that had been on the go pile but I'd thought at the last minute I wanted them so a top and my cardigan stayed. I ate and wrote ing my diary which is still mile behind!! Then Leonie and Nina arrived. They could only get one night in my hostel then they had to move so we went in search of the other hostel. It was an ok place but at least the walk was nice. Once back at the hostel Leonie let me use her notebook to transfer my pictures and Nina skyped her family. I headed off to bed pretty early as I was up early yet again the next day!!
Day 53 leave Alice springs
Today I fly to Adelaide. I had planned on having a nice lay in, well sleeping passed 5:30am anyway! However this plan was thwarted by Alessandra being unable to set her alarm properly and by the boy coming back from his Mc Donald's shift. This ment I woke up about 5 when he came back rustling and turning the load aircon on and then again at 6:15 when Alessandra's alarm went off and she got up. When she realised that she was about 2 hours early getting up she went back to bed. So broken sleep from 5 but still quite nice knowing I didn't have to get up. When I did get up I began the war with my bag to get everything in and also moved some heavier stuff into my hand luggage. I checked out then played on the Internet until the bus to the airport arrived. At the airport I discovered that my plane was delayed by an hour. So I browsed the extensive range of 2 shops and got some food. I saw most of my tour group too, they were delayed going to Melbourne and others were flying to Sydney. I was left waiting. I checked my Australian phone to discover I had a text message from the airline to say the plane was delayed. Very useful when you are already at the airport!! Ggrr!! But an impressive service anyway. I tried to catch up on my diary because it is so behind! Once the plane did arrive and we boarded I discovered I was sitting next to one of the lazy couple from the tour! The flight was quite good, we got a sandwich and drink, and entertainment! The landing was a little shaky and bumpy but generally good flight.
Once I had my bag I waited for a taxi which didn't take long. The taxi driver, oh my word, I have never seen anything like it! He was on his phone and at one point while sat in standing traffic he went to pull forwards because he was concentrating on the phone more than the road! He then began playing with the windows at traffic lights like a child, up and down, up again and down!! Needless to say no tip for him!
The hostel is really really nice. It's all clean and looks quite new. I thought about sorting my stuff out but then decided to go for a food hunt instead. I got instructions and a map from the reception and off I went. Now I recon I'm quite good at map reading as I have got my gold duke of Edinburgh award. However it is difficult to read a map properly when it has all the roads on! Ggrr!! But I did find the super market and got very boring food. Back at the hostel I tried to put my pictures on CDs but they charge so much I gave up and went to bed. Boring end sorry guys!!
Once I had my bag I waited for a taxi which didn't take long. The taxi driver, oh my word, I have never seen anything like it! He was on his phone and at one point while sat in standing traffic he went to pull forwards because he was concentrating on the phone more than the road! He then began playing with the windows at traffic lights like a child, up and down, up again and down!! Needless to say no tip for him!
The hostel is really really nice. It's all clean and looks quite new. I thought about sorting my stuff out but then decided to go for a food hunt instead. I got instructions and a map from the reception and off I went. Now I recon I'm quite good at map reading as I have got my gold duke of Edinburgh award. However it is difficult to read a map properly when it has all the roads on! Ggrr!! But I did find the super market and got very boring food. Back at the hostel I tried to put my pictures on CDs but they charge so much I gave up and went to bed. Boring end sorry guys!!
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Day 52 Kings Canyon and boot surgery!
5am start today. I slept better out of the tent than I had done in any of them. With natures air conditioning it was nice and cool, I did wake a few times and have a slight thought that some creature was watching me. It didn't rain shin though which was good because I do sleep rather deeply and considering I slept through a lightening storm, while in a tent, just 2 nights ago I'm not sure I'd have woken up. Anyway up and dressed again in the dark and set off for our hike. As part of the tour we must help with making food, washing up and ensuring the camps are clean and tidy when we leave. On the whole we are good at this and all pitch in, the couple that were picked up from the airport missed that bit and I swear I didn't see them do one thing the whole 3 days!! Makes me mad they would just come eat then leave again like we were there to wait on them! Ggrr!! Sorry I keep digressing! We got to kings canyon, me armed with boots and tape really for some boot surgery! I put them on and tied them up then dove straight in with the tape. I can't believe I hadn't packed any duck tape! (note to self get duck tape from some where. The world is a good place because of duck tape!). Once I had taped both boots there was about 3inches of tape left on the roll, the look on Bens face when I told him this was a look of 'oh I told her one roll would be enough and crap I hope it holds' there was also doubt in his eyes! The first part of the hike was a steep incline and it was warm. Once at the top though it was a beautiful view. On the way round Ben stopped to tell us things about the plants and rocks it was interesting. We were slowed down a little by Diana who had hurt her toes yesterday jumping on some rocks. She wasn't walking properly and to be honest was a disaster waiting to happen, and after we had stopped at the garden of Eden for a break then returned up to the rim it happened. Diana twisted her ankle! After that she held on to Stefano the whole time despite me trying to help and finding her a stick to use, as it is easier to walk with your arm down and not on a tall mans shoulder! But no it was to dry and brittle for her, even though I jumped on it and couldn't break it!! I walked down with the couple from Sweden and we stopped in a few places to take silly pictures! Hehe!!
Ben had said, weather permitting, there maybe the option of a helicopter ride over the canyon but there had to be a minimum of 2 people. Luckly 3 of us wanted to do it so after the walk he dropped us at the heli pad and took the rest to make lunch. It was Diana, Leonie and me, there was the option of 8mins, 15mins or 30mins at varying prices. The other 2 wanted to do the 8minute one so that's what we did. Diana made the pilot walk behind us and film us walking to the helicopter, which Ben had named the sexy black flyer! I wasn't sure how good a video of our backs was going to be but there we go. Once we had done the compulsory pictures in front of the heli we got in. Diana in the front and Leoine and I in the back. We put on our earphones and took off. It was really cool so smooth and you could see everything! We went over the canyon we had walked at, that was really cool because you can see the while walk we had just done. The only problem was it was over to fast. Plus now I really want to have a go at flying one! Another thing to add to the to do list!
We rejoined the group and had lunch, which was an unexciting mince wrap! Not really great to be honest. Over in the distance I could see a storm heading our way. We set off just in time as it began to rain. We out ran it for a while and I dozed off for a bit. When I woke up though it was like another world. No longer could you see the side of the road, the clouds just seemed to touch the ground all around us! I also thought either my ears failed me or that I was dreaming, because I thought I could hear hail stones! I thought surely not in the Australian desert! Then Ben said over the microphone 'this is really strange I have never been in such a big storm and there are stones falling from the sky'. So I was right how very very odd!!!! The lightening was striking almost right next to the bus, it was quite something! We managed to get out of the storm and stopped for people to use the bush toilet. They did have to make a run for the bus as the storm caught up with us again.
Back at Alice springs we did our washing and washed ourselves! Then we chilled, Diana put her foot up to try and help the swelling. I was so tired though that I went on the computer then fell into bed!
Ben had said, weather permitting, there maybe the option of a helicopter ride over the canyon but there had to be a minimum of 2 people. Luckly 3 of us wanted to do it so after the walk he dropped us at the heli pad and took the rest to make lunch. It was Diana, Leonie and me, there was the option of 8mins, 15mins or 30mins at varying prices. The other 2 wanted to do the 8minute one so that's what we did. Diana made the pilot walk behind us and film us walking to the helicopter, which Ben had named the sexy black flyer! I wasn't sure how good a video of our backs was going to be but there we go. Once we had done the compulsory pictures in front of the heli we got in. Diana in the front and Leoine and I in the back. We put on our earphones and took off. It was really cool so smooth and you could see everything! We went over the canyon we had walked at, that was really cool because you can see the while walk we had just done. The only problem was it was over to fast. Plus now I really want to have a go at flying one! Another thing to add to the to do list!
We rejoined the group and had lunch, which was an unexciting mince wrap! Not really great to be honest. Over in the distance I could see a storm heading our way. We set off just in time as it began to rain. We out ran it for a while and I dozed off for a bit. When I woke up though it was like another world. No longer could you see the side of the road, the clouds just seemed to touch the ground all around us! I also thought either my ears failed me or that I was dreaming, because I thought I could hear hail stones! I thought surely not in the Australian desert! Then Ben said over the microphone 'this is really strange I have never been in such a big storm and there are stones falling from the sky'. So I was right how very very odd!!!! The lightening was striking almost right next to the bus, it was quite something! We managed to get out of the storm and stopped for people to use the bush toilet. They did have to make a run for the bus as the storm caught up with us again.
Back at Alice springs we did our washing and washed ourselves! Then we chilled, Diana put her foot up to try and help the swelling. I was so tired though that I went on the computer then fell into bed!
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Day 51 Early start
4am!!! Yes 4am!! Oh my god up early after a rubbish sleep cos it was so hot. We had breakfast and packed our bags in to the trailer. Alessandra took my torch so she could go to the toilet. I couldn't find her to get it so I could go so I braved the dark. That was fine heading towards the lit toilets but not so good trying to find the bus in the dark!! I just kept walking into fences then, like a saviour Ben came with a torch. Calling me kacey though which I think is because no one cal say Katie properly! Once I was safely on the bus we set off for the sunrise. There was a lot of people there and everyone was trying to by the best spot and the Chinese/Japanese had their tripods with about 2 cameras each!! We found a good spot and began to take pictures, so many pictures! The sunrise I have to say was a little disappointing but I think most are. It was then time for the walk, quite a few people were leaning towards the half walk which is about 4.5km as appose to the full walk which was about 9.5km. I wanted to do the full walk as you don't come to Uluru every week do you? After a little coercion everyone opted to do the full 9.5km!! Well one thing that will always stay in my mind from this walk is the FLIES!!!! So many flies!! That want to be in your mouth, ears, eyes or up your nose! So annoying because even if you can't see them you can hear the buzzing! Of course the other things that will stick in my mind are how massive the rock is and how beautiful it is. I enjoyed the walk, the weather was very kind to us and it was a little cloudy which made it bearable in the heat. Alessandra and I went to look at a water hole on the way and saw a wild dog or dingo drinking and having a paddle. We arrived back at the bus, by 9:15, to fruit cake. Now at the start Ben had told us where the toilets were and had said that they were at the end car park where he'd be waiting. This however was not true they were at the car park before and weren't signposted at all. So we had held on until the end only to find we had to walk back about 1.5km to the toilet.
The next part of our day was a tour of Uluru with an aborigine, this was at 10am so we just chilled till then (or hiked to the toilet!) Our tour guide was called Alwyn and he was talking in his language (the name of which i cant remeber) with an interpreter, she was Japanese and had learned Alwyns language then learned English, clever lady! On our tour we went to the boys and mens cave and learned how they taught and what the different cave paintings mean. We also went to the family cave, woman's cave and to a water hole. Unfortunately none of the water holes can be drank from because of all the rubbish that is in them, mainly batteries which people have dropped when climbing Uluru. He told us of the dream stories about the mala people and the rainbow serpent, about how the holes and thongs were formed in the rock. It was very interesting but I don't know if short words in Alwyn's language are the same as while sentences in English but he didn't say a lot and she did. On the walk back to the bus I talked to Alwyn and asked about his family, he however told me how he was band from drinking for 1 month by the police but how that had finished now. Also his lady friends in Alice springs and bout the bob marley smoke he had in his pocket!! Funny!!
As we had been to the visitors centre yesterday we now just headed straight for our next camp which was at Kings canyon. It was, as usual in Australia, a long drive! On the way we stopped to find some fire wood to have a camp fire, we inly found a little but enough. Our camp was up on a Jill in the outback but we first went to the kings canyon resort for a swim as it was so hot. The pool was lovely not green like the one at Uluru. I nipped to the shop to find something to fix or at least keep my boots together for our walk the next day. They had electrical tape and I was going to buy a couple just in case, however Ben said one would do so I believed him and got one. (see next post for follow on story of the broken boots) He went to our camp to cook dinner while we had a few hours in the pool. For dinner we had thai green curry with rice and vegetables it was tasty! After we had eaten we lit a camp fire. I have to say i dont think i could get away with using Bens method at guides! Alcohol hand gel as a fire light isn't really what Baden Powell had in mind I don't think. A few of us were thinking of sleeping in a swag (Australian bedding roll) under the stars. But nature had other ideas, as a large storm floated over and we thought that sleeping out wasn't going to happen Ben very helpfully said it's fine just look a the happy clouds. These were the whispy White clouds floating away from us, not the thick dark black ones coming for us. It then began to rain, and thunder and lightening right over head. It is so difficult to try and get a good picture of lightening! So those pictures shall be in my memory! It rained hard for about an hour and the, alcohol hand gel, fire survived and once it stopped raining the ground dried quite quickly. Therefore the five of us who had thought about sleeping out decided we would give it a go. Let be honest if it rained again our tents were all of 3seconds away. We set up our swags around the now smouldering fire. First you have to shake it out to make sure you don't have any bed buddies, when doing this it is best not to look to closely at the debris that is on the mattress because I found mouse droppings!! And when I got changed in the tent a little mouse came to say hello! I yucked my self into the swag in my sleeping bag liner and made sure no part of me touched the outside if the swag. I was a little paranoid for a while that the mouse may come say hello but eventually thought oh well am tired and need to be up early again! So I went to sleep.
The next part of our day was a tour of Uluru with an aborigine, this was at 10am so we just chilled till then (or hiked to the toilet!) Our tour guide was called Alwyn and he was talking in his language (the name of which i cant remeber) with an interpreter, she was Japanese and had learned Alwyns language then learned English, clever lady! On our tour we went to the boys and mens cave and learned how they taught and what the different cave paintings mean. We also went to the family cave, woman's cave and to a water hole. Unfortunately none of the water holes can be drank from because of all the rubbish that is in them, mainly batteries which people have dropped when climbing Uluru. He told us of the dream stories about the mala people and the rainbow serpent, about how the holes and thongs were formed in the rock. It was very interesting but I don't know if short words in Alwyn's language are the same as while sentences in English but he didn't say a lot and she did. On the walk back to the bus I talked to Alwyn and asked about his family, he however told me how he was band from drinking for 1 month by the police but how that had finished now. Also his lady friends in Alice springs and bout the bob marley smoke he had in his pocket!! Funny!!
As we had been to the visitors centre yesterday we now just headed straight for our next camp which was at Kings canyon. It was, as usual in Australia, a long drive! On the way we stopped to find some fire wood to have a camp fire, we inly found a little but enough. Our camp was up on a Jill in the outback but we first went to the kings canyon resort for a swim as it was so hot. The pool was lovely not green like the one at Uluru. I nipped to the shop to find something to fix or at least keep my boots together for our walk the next day. They had electrical tape and I was going to buy a couple just in case, however Ben said one would do so I believed him and got one. (see next post for follow on story of the broken boots) He went to our camp to cook dinner while we had a few hours in the pool. For dinner we had thai green curry with rice and vegetables it was tasty! After we had eaten we lit a camp fire. I have to say i dont think i could get away with using Bens method at guides! Alcohol hand gel as a fire light isn't really what Baden Powell had in mind I don't think. A few of us were thinking of sleeping in a swag (Australian bedding roll) under the stars. But nature had other ideas, as a large storm floated over and we thought that sleeping out wasn't going to happen Ben very helpfully said it's fine just look a the happy clouds. These were the whispy White clouds floating away from us, not the thick dark black ones coming for us. It then began to rain, and thunder and lightening right over head. It is so difficult to try and get a good picture of lightening! So those pictures shall be in my memory! It rained hard for about an hour and the, alcohol hand gel, fire survived and once it stopped raining the ground dried quite quickly. Therefore the five of us who had thought about sleeping out decided we would give it a go. Let be honest if it rained again our tents were all of 3seconds away. We set up our swags around the now smouldering fire. First you have to shake it out to make sure you don't have any bed buddies, when doing this it is best not to look to closely at the debris that is on the mattress because I found mouse droppings!! And when I got changed in the tent a little mouse came to say hello! I yucked my self into the swag in my sleeping bag liner and made sure no part of me touched the outside if the swag. I was a little paranoid for a while that the mouse may come say hello but eventually thought oh well am tired and need to be up early again! So I went to sleep.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Day 50 tour to Uluru
We all got up early, out of the 8 of us in the dorm and 7 were headed off on the same tour to Uluru (Ayers rock). I did feel sorry for the one girl left as am sure we weren't quiet and someone turned the main light on. Once we had all eaten breakfast and packed/rammed everything back into our bags we waited for our pick up.
Our guide was called Ben. We piled onto the bus and set off. First we had to go to the main office to check in then we were really off! Our first stop was at a camel farm, a strange concept. They did have other animals but mostly camels! You could have a ride on them for $6 so I did! It was very short! The ride not the camel!! It was a little like being on a horse but higher and more bumpy. Also the way they stand up and sit down is a little scary, you think you are going to fall off forwards! The camel I rode was called Blacky but he was surprisingly grey/white. Once we were on our way again Ben decided the best way to get to know each other was to go to the front of the bus and say our name, where we're from, our job and our travel plans over the microphone!! I am not a microphone person! Watch this space were I will go bright red!! Well there really was no where to run or hide so I bit the bullet and did it. It was surprisingly easy but maybe the fact I had spent 3 days with maybe half the group already helped!
Our next stop was the camp at Uluru, so we just headed straight there. We arrived at lunch time so ate straight away. Ben said we had made good time and as the sunsets later in summer we had time to go for a swim before we did the organised stuff. So that us what we did because it was so dam hot!! The pool however wasn't the best kept of pools I've ever seen but it was wet and cool so that was enough. Ben came to get us and said that there was 2 more people he had picked up from the airport. They were from holland I think, they didn't really talk much. As we had a lot of time we went to the Uluru information centre today instead of tomorrow. It was quite interesting reading all the dream stories of the aborigines and how they collect food and what they eat. From here we went to the Olgas or Kata Tjuta which is the other big rock formation in the area.
When we got there Ben gave us a history lesson on how Uluru and Kata Tjuta formed, it was interesting. One of the new couple, who I think was from belgium, didn't understand that geology isn't formed over minutes it is over millions of years! So when we say that the centre of Australia was once a sea but then plate movement caused it to become a mountain range and be above sea level, that it didn't happen over 5 minutes! After our lesson we set off on walk. Unfortunately after about 100m my right walking boot decided that it wasn't fun to have the heel attached still and so it came loose and was flapping all over! It was a very strange feeling like having a walking boot flip flop! I made it to the end platform. The walk was stunning between 2 of the mountains and the platform was at the point they meet beautiful! Ben had some micropore and we did a makeshift repair for the walk back to the bus. Fingers crossed it'll hold!! You will be pleased to know that it did hold, just however my left boot decided it didn't want to be left out and about 1 minute after leaving the platform it also shed it's heel!! Ggrr!! Bloody things it's not like I have 2 more days walking on this tour and more on other ones!! Back at the bus I put my flip flops back on, I have grown quite attached to them. We set off for the sunset, with one stop for good picture opportunity. It was a little cloudy sones didn't know what the sun set would be like, wether it would just be hidden by the clouds or wether there was the right amount to make it a good one. We headed away from the crowds with our box of goodies! Ben opened the sparkling White wine, which we drank out of green plastic mugs, and he laid out the crackers and dips. To start with the clouds did hide the sun and it was a bit pants but then the sky went pink and the rock went red it looked stunning! The shades and colours of both the sky and the rock were beautiful! I took so so many pictures, some good and some really really pants ones! Once the sunhad gone down we headed back to camp for tea. Beef, sausages and kangaroo with a potato thing of Bens creation and salad. It was god the sausages not to nice and I didn't have any beef but the kangaroo was really tasty. Alesandra and I did a bit of dancing mainly salsa and bechatta. Them we headed to bed as it's an early start for sunrise!
Our guide was called Ben. We piled onto the bus and set off. First we had to go to the main office to check in then we were really off! Our first stop was at a camel farm, a strange concept. They did have other animals but mostly camels! You could have a ride on them for $6 so I did! It was very short! The ride not the camel!! It was a little like being on a horse but higher and more bumpy. Also the way they stand up and sit down is a little scary, you think you are going to fall off forwards! The camel I rode was called Blacky but he was surprisingly grey/white. Once we were on our way again Ben decided the best way to get to know each other was to go to the front of the bus and say our name, where we're from, our job and our travel plans over the microphone!! I am not a microphone person! Watch this space were I will go bright red!! Well there really was no where to run or hide so I bit the bullet and did it. It was surprisingly easy but maybe the fact I had spent 3 days with maybe half the group already helped!
Our next stop was the camp at Uluru, so we just headed straight there. We arrived at lunch time so ate straight away. Ben said we had made good time and as the sunsets later in summer we had time to go for a swim before we did the organised stuff. So that us what we did because it was so dam hot!! The pool however wasn't the best kept of pools I've ever seen but it was wet and cool so that was enough. Ben came to get us and said that there was 2 more people he had picked up from the airport. They were from holland I think, they didn't really talk much. As we had a lot of time we went to the Uluru information centre today instead of tomorrow. It was quite interesting reading all the dream stories of the aborigines and how they collect food and what they eat. From here we went to the Olgas or Kata Tjuta which is the other big rock formation in the area.
When we got there Ben gave us a history lesson on how Uluru and Kata Tjuta formed, it was interesting. One of the new couple, who I think was from belgium, didn't understand that geology isn't formed over minutes it is over millions of years! So when we say that the centre of Australia was once a sea but then plate movement caused it to become a mountain range and be above sea level, that it didn't happen over 5 minutes! After our lesson we set off on walk. Unfortunately after about 100m my right walking boot decided that it wasn't fun to have the heel attached still and so it came loose and was flapping all over! It was a very strange feeling like having a walking boot flip flop! I made it to the end platform. The walk was stunning between 2 of the mountains and the platform was at the point they meet beautiful! Ben had some micropore and we did a makeshift repair for the walk back to the bus. Fingers crossed it'll hold!! You will be pleased to know that it did hold, just however my left boot decided it didn't want to be left out and about 1 minute after leaving the platform it also shed it's heel!! Ggrr!! Bloody things it's not like I have 2 more days walking on this tour and more on other ones!! Back at the bus I put my flip flops back on, I have grown quite attached to them. We set off for the sunset, with one stop for good picture opportunity. It was a little cloudy sones didn't know what the sun set would be like, wether it would just be hidden by the clouds or wether there was the right amount to make it a good one. We headed away from the crowds with our box of goodies! Ben opened the sparkling White wine, which we drank out of green plastic mugs, and he laid out the crackers and dips. To start with the clouds did hide the sun and it was a bit pants but then the sky went pink and the rock went red it looked stunning! The shades and colours of both the sky and the rock were beautiful! I took so so many pictures, some good and some really really pants ones! Once the sunhad gone down we headed back to camp for tea. Beef, sausages and kangaroo with a potato thing of Bens creation and salad. It was god the sausages not to nice and I didn't have any beef but the kangaroo was really tasty. Alesandra and I did a bit of dancing mainly salsa and bechatta. Them we headed to bed as it's an early start for sunrise!
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Day 49 Devils marbles
Apparently there was a huge thunder and lighting storm over our camp over night. I say apparently because I didn't hear a thing!! I slept right through it! Little bit of a later start today as we only have 500km left to go! Again we were ready to go on time so we had a happy guide! Our first stop was the devils marbles, these are a load of round rocks. Sounds boring but was quite cool you could stand between them and climb them. Corinne and I had a good time taking loads of random pictures; holding them, lifting them, jumping on them. We didn't make many stops on this drive, mainly because there aren't that many things to stop at.
We had lunch at another roadhouse full of stuff. This bartender was snit more chatty though and asked where your from then points out some stuff ha has from your country, mainly money. Our last stop on our Darwin to Alive springs tour was the tropic of Capricorn. Just a column with a world on top which has the equator marked on it and under the tropic of Capricorn marked. Plaques on the bottom give the longitude and latitude. Apparently on a previous tour some guy had whipped out his gps and said the statue was in the wrong place! Loser!! Pictures taken we piled back onto the bus for the last leg. We dis stop for fuel at the centre point of Australia (well the closest you can get because the actual centre is on private land).
We arrived at our hostel in Alice springs at a reasonable time and began to sort everything out, washing etc. I shoved a load of washing on and booked into the hostel for the end of the next tour. I then cancelled the hostel I had booked! This one is cheaper! I was in a dorm room with most of the girls from the previous tour who were also going on the next one. We headed out to get some tea. As it was Sunday there wasn't much open but we did find Coles supermarket open and decided to all pitch in and get fruit salad. We then went on a search for coffee and third time lucky we found a place that served it.
Once back at the hostel I sorted my washing out and tried to rearrange my packing so everything I'd need for the next 3 days was in my small bag, to save the stress of packing in at tent in the dark. After a lovely shower we went to have our fruit salad. Oh my word I have never seen so much fruit!! We had banana, apple, nectarine, pear, melon, grapes, strawberries (I think that was all!) but enough to feed an army! Needless to say I failed to eat it all!! I got to talk to Dan which was good but makes me wish he was here even more!! Also got to talk to Mum because Dad has lost his voice! I then chilled for abit with Esther, Leonie, Nina and Si joined us once he had shaved his beard to a goaty!! We all chatted and exchanged emails and then headed to bed. I sent few emails and then tried to sleep but the air con was on quite cold and as I was on the top bunk was blowing straight onto me! Another early start tomorrow as we have 6:10 pick up!
Live now, sleep later!!
We had lunch at another roadhouse full of stuff. This bartender was snit more chatty though and asked where your from then points out some stuff ha has from your country, mainly money. Our last stop on our Darwin to Alive springs tour was the tropic of Capricorn. Just a column with a world on top which has the equator marked on it and under the tropic of Capricorn marked. Plaques on the bottom give the longitude and latitude. Apparently on a previous tour some guy had whipped out his gps and said the statue was in the wrong place! Loser!! Pictures taken we piled back onto the bus for the last leg. We dis stop for fuel at the centre point of Australia (well the closest you can get because the actual centre is on private land).
We arrived at our hostel in Alice springs at a reasonable time and began to sort everything out, washing etc. I shoved a load of washing on and booked into the hostel for the end of the next tour. I then cancelled the hostel I had booked! This one is cheaper! I was in a dorm room with most of the girls from the previous tour who were also going on the next one. We headed out to get some tea. As it was Sunday there wasn't much open but we did find Coles supermarket open and decided to all pitch in and get fruit salad. We then went on a search for coffee and third time lucky we found a place that served it.
Once back at the hostel I sorted my washing out and tried to rearrange my packing so everything I'd need for the next 3 days was in my small bag, to save the stress of packing in at tent in the dark. After a lovely shower we went to have our fruit salad. Oh my word I have never seen so much fruit!! We had banana, apple, nectarine, pear, melon, grapes, strawberries (I think that was all!) but enough to feed an army! Needless to say I failed to eat it all!! I got to talk to Dan which was good but makes me wish he was here even more!! Also got to talk to Mum because Dad has lost his voice! I then chilled for abit with Esther, Leonie, Nina and Si joined us once he had shaved his beard to a goaty!! We all chatted and exchanged emails and then headed to bed. I sent few emails and then tried to sleep but the air con was on quite cold and as I was on the top bunk was blowing straight onto me! Another early start tomorrow as we have 6:10 pick up!
Live now, sleep later!!
Day 48 Early rise and long drive
Early rise again in preparation for the long drive ahead. We were quite efficient and were ready to leave earlier than we needed to be! Our first stop was at a natural thermal pool. It is one were the water has been heated by the sun as it filters through the rocks. To be honest I thought it was going to be really warm but it wasn't really. However it was nice to have a swim after a hot night.
Our guide, Sauce had said if we didn't keep him waiting in the morning there maybe a possibility of an extra stop that was not on the intinery. This was a free zoo, they had loads of birds, wallabies, emus and crocodiles. We arrived just in time because it was feeding time! The crocodile they had was called Sam and he was 7 years old. He could jump up quite high and loved his chicken thighs! We then stopped at the oldest pub in Australia called Daily springs. It was full of stuff! Like stickers, t-shirts, bras, flags, money, badges, even someones false leg! All signed and pinned to the wall. You could spend a day looking and not see it all. Also there's the most remote traffic light which is always on red! The record for waiting at it is 15mins by a german guy! We had lunch here which was really tasty chicken BBQ and salad.
From the pub it was pretty much drive drive drive! I think from there we had about 500km still to get to our camp. So I pretty much dozed on and off. Our next camp was on a horse farm, we had to shoo a couple of horses out of the road to get to the camp site. It was so hot and humid, even just sitting you are soaking wet with sweat! As the sun went down it was beautiful and the farmer said if Sauce had called ahead we could of gone for a sunset ride. We made do with pictures from the camp. Unfortunately once the sun has gone down the wildlife comes out to play and all radiates towards the lights! Am sure you can guess what I mean, bugs! There were crickets hopping around and jumping every which way crashing into anything in the way. It almost sounded like rain as the bounced off the walls. There was preying mantis as well one just chilling on the towel and a couple copying the crickets. This was 21st century camping as four people whipped out the laptops and skyped away to family bs friends. I in the other hand whipped out the cards (I hope no one got any funny ideas then!) and played a few games with Corinne, Esther and Dianna joined in after a while. We did have a screaming fit from Laura the italian lady because she walked into a spiders web. Si was trying to decide what to do about his backpackers beard and how long to leave his side burns. Very exciting conversation!! Bed earlyish again and it was so so hot!! Fingers crossed for rain to cool it down!
Our guide, Sauce had said if we didn't keep him waiting in the morning there maybe a possibility of an extra stop that was not on the intinery. This was a free zoo, they had loads of birds, wallabies, emus and crocodiles. We arrived just in time because it was feeding time! The crocodile they had was called Sam and he was 7 years old. He could jump up quite high and loved his chicken thighs! We then stopped at the oldest pub in Australia called Daily springs. It was full of stuff! Like stickers, t-shirts, bras, flags, money, badges, even someones false leg! All signed and pinned to the wall. You could spend a day looking and not see it all. Also there's the most remote traffic light which is always on red! The record for waiting at it is 15mins by a german guy! We had lunch here which was really tasty chicken BBQ and salad.
From the pub it was pretty much drive drive drive! I think from there we had about 500km still to get to our camp. So I pretty much dozed on and off. Our next camp was on a horse farm, we had to shoo a couple of horses out of the road to get to the camp site. It was so hot and humid, even just sitting you are soaking wet with sweat! As the sun went down it was beautiful and the farmer said if Sauce had called ahead we could of gone for a sunset ride. We made do with pictures from the camp. Unfortunately once the sun has gone down the wildlife comes out to play and all radiates towards the lights! Am sure you can guess what I mean, bugs! There were crickets hopping around and jumping every which way crashing into anything in the way. It almost sounded like rain as the bounced off the walls. There was preying mantis as well one just chilling on the towel and a couple copying the crickets. This was 21st century camping as four people whipped out the laptops and skyped away to family bs friends. I in the other hand whipped out the cards (I hope no one got any funny ideas then!) and played a few games with Corinne, Esther and Dianna joined in after a while. We did have a screaming fit from Laura the italian lady because she walked into a spiders web. Si was trying to decide what to do about his backpackers beard and how long to leave his side burns. Very exciting conversation!! Bed earlyish again and it was so so hot!! Fingers crossed for rain to cool it down!
Day 47 first tour begins Darwin to Alice springs
Yet another early morning! 5:30am pick up today, so I got up squeezed everything into my bag and headed the long walk to the pick up shop which was 2 doors down from hostel!! I was the only one there and as the time ticked by I began to get concerned, especially as 6am came and went! Luckily someone did turn up and gave me vouchers for the trip and hostel etc. The bus turned up about 6:20 and I was the last one on. Our guide was called Sauce, a typical Australian you would imagine running round the out back. Tall, long hair, short shorts and a beard! Our group was made up of 1 swiss, 5 german, 2 italian and 2 english. We drove for a little way then stopped to do introductions and to visit a movie star! Now I know your all getting very excited to hear who it was!! Well what's a well know film or films from Australia? You got it Crocodile Dundee!! One and two this star was in. You may remember the scene with the bull and Dundee does the finger and eye thing(?) well the star we met was Charlie the bull!! Deceased and stuffed in a pub!
Due to it being wet season the rivers are all swollen and some flooded so we were unable to canoe or swim because they can't see if there are crocodiles. From the pub we headed to a place called Edith falls and did a 2pm walk to the top and back. Oh my word it was so so hot!! Sweating, you have never seen anything like it! The crocodiles didn't seem such a threat when your so hot the water looks so tempting!
After lunch we headed to Katherine gorge! Very sad I know but I was quite excited about being in a town and nature reserve with my name! Hehe! Again no swimming etc at Katherine gorge but we did another walk up to the view point and took far to many pictures. The pictures never seem to do the views justice, I think maybe they should have some sort of scale on them. On the way down we found what we thought were croc foot prints but Sauce corrected us and said they were wallaby prints, oh well I took a picture anyway. We were given the option of going to the shops or swimming in the local pool. I chose swimming and so did Si the English guy, all the others fancied shopping instead.
After a lovely swim in the sun heated pool(!) we were picked up and headed over to our camp. Now my idea of camping is a tent you put up and sleeping on the ground. This camp had static tents more like huts and beds with mattresses!! Like 5* camping! The deal was Sauce cooked our food and we washed up. Honey soy stir fry mmmmmm!! It was lovely! Si, Corinne (the swiss girl) and myself played cards until it was to dark to see, so about 2 games! We then chatted and Corinne and I looked at the millions of stars you cab see when there is no light pollution. It is beautiful! We went to bed quite early as we had another early start because we have a 700km drive the next day.
Due to it being wet season the rivers are all swollen and some flooded so we were unable to canoe or swim because they can't see if there are crocodiles. From the pub we headed to a place called Edith falls and did a 2pm walk to the top and back. Oh my word it was so so hot!! Sweating, you have never seen anything like it! The crocodiles didn't seem such a threat when your so hot the water looks so tempting!
After lunch we headed to Katherine gorge! Very sad I know but I was quite excited about being in a town and nature reserve with my name! Hehe! Again no swimming etc at Katherine gorge but we did another walk up to the view point and took far to many pictures. The pictures never seem to do the views justice, I think maybe they should have some sort of scale on them. On the way down we found what we thought were croc foot prints but Sauce corrected us and said they were wallaby prints, oh well I took a picture anyway. We were given the option of going to the shops or swimming in the local pool. I chose swimming and so did Si the English guy, all the others fancied shopping instead.
After a lovely swim in the sun heated pool(!) we were picked up and headed over to our camp. Now my idea of camping is a tent you put up and sleeping on the ground. This camp had static tents more like huts and beds with mattresses!! Like 5* camping! The deal was Sauce cooked our food and we washed up. Honey soy stir fry mmmmmm!! It was lovely! Si, Corinne (the swiss girl) and myself played cards until it was to dark to see, so about 2 games! We then chatted and Corinne and I looked at the millions of stars you cab see when there is no light pollution. It is beautiful! We went to bed quite early as we had another early start because we have a 700km drive the next day.
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